Massachusetts secretary of housing and economic development Gregory Bialecki is shown in this file photo at the opening of the expanded mechanical engineering technology facility at the Smith & Wesson Application Center at Springfield Technical Community College last fall; the center is currently offering a new accelerated manufacturing careers program.
(JOHN SUCHOCKI / THE REPUBLICAN)

The goal of the program is to help fill a void in the region’s manufacturing training needs.

The program, which will operate at no cost to students or businesses to participate, was created out of a need expressed by regional employers who noted there was a lack of qualified candidates applying for open positions at their companies.

The first training to be offered is a manufacturing production technician program, a 10-week certified program supported by the Massachusetts Community Colleges & Workforce Development Transformation Agenda. The first session of classes began last week at STCC’s Smith & Wesson Technology Applications Center and will include a combination of classroom and hands-on training in machining.

Through the program, students will intern with a local manufacturing employer; have access to tutoring and coaching; receive academic advising; and receive help with their resumes, job search, and interviewing.

“The accelerated manufacturing careers program is an important step to support manufacturing excellence in Western Massachusetts and throughout the commonwealth,” said STCC president Ira H. Rubenzahl. “The program will allow regional manufacturers to retain jobs, be economically competitive in capturing new business, and support the region’s ability to attract new employers. Our hope is that the program will become a model adopted throughout the state.”

This training program is designed to help those seeking entry-level positions in manufacturing gain the skills needed to perform those job functions. To qualify, students will need to be at an eighth-grade reading and writing level; a clean Criminal Offender Record Information check; must attend a one-hour information session and half-day career event; and basic skill assessment.

Successful manufacturing production technicians need to have mechanical aptitude, good math skills, be able to work with a team, have good communication skills, attention to detail and documentation, and a professional attitude.

Funding for the program is supported by the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., Suffolk Construction, and Smith & Wesson.

“This program is in our best interest as employers, as it will fill the skills gap by training qualified employees for the manufacturing industry,” said resident and chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership Dan O’Connell. “The partnership of STCC, with state of the art equipment and instruction, and HCC, with exceptional ABE and ESOL support, is the perfect choice to provide both basic education, soft skills proficiency, and industry certified training to a population that will be a valuable addition to the manufacturing workforce.”

MassMutual vice president of community responsibility Nick Fyntrilakis agreed, noting the demand for skilled workers in the area.

“This program will provide individuals with key job readiness skills and prepare them for promising manufacturing careers in Western Massachusetts,” said Fyntrilakis. “The program will quickly help to make this industry cluster, and our region, stronger and more competitive.”

Executive director of training and workforce options Robert LePage said the program is aligned for machine operators to the STCC mechanical engineering technology program. Upon program completion, students will receive a certificate of completion, an OSHA 10 card, national career readiness, and mechanical aptitude certificate.

“Manufacturing roots are long and deep in Springfield and Holyoke from the Armory on STCC’s campus to the precision machining and niche manufacturing in the region today,” said Holyoke Community College president William Messner. “HCC and STCC recognize the needs of local manufacturers for skilled entry level workers. The accelerated manufacturing careers program is intended to help individuals in Holyoke and Springfield to learn the basics and get on a career pathway. The joint efforts of HCC and STCC – and indeed Springfield and Holyoke – show that through collaboration, economic and workforce development can occur in the region’s urban core.”

A second manufacturing production technician session will be held at Holyoke Community this fall.

For individuals or companies who would like to learn more about the program, contact Paul Sheehan at (413) 755-6504 or by email to plsheehan@stcc.edu.